Liquid discharge device and liquid discharge head

Abstract

A liquid discharge device performs recording by use of a liquid discharge head including discharge ports to discharge a liquid, pressure generation elements to generate energy to be used to discharge the liquid, and pressure chambers communicating with the discharge ports. The liquid discharge device includes a control unit to control a temperature of the liquid discharge head by applying heat with heating elements arranged in divided areas of a region of the liquid discharge head where the discharge ports are arranged. When there is recording data for the discharge port in a certain one of the divided areas, the control unit causes the heating element in the divided area to generate heat, and when there is no recording data for the discharge port in the certain divided area, the control unit keeps the heating element in the certain divided area from generating heat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid discharge device to perform recording by use of a liquid discharge head including a plurality of discharge ports to discharge a liquid, a plurality of pressure generation elements to generate energy to be used to discharge the liquid, and a plurality of pressure chambers including the plurality of pressure generation elements and communicating with the plurality of discharge ports, the liquid discharge device comprising:
 a control unit configured to control a temperature of the liquid discharge head by applying heat with heating elements arranged in a plurality of areas of a region of the liquid discharge head, the region being a region where the plurality of discharge ports are arranged, wherein 
 a driver to drive the corresponding heating element is provided in each of the plurality of areas, 
 when there is recording data for the discharge port in a certain one of the areas, the control unit causes the heating element in the certain area to generate heat, 
 when there is no recording data for the discharge port in the certain area, the control unit keeps the heating element in the certain area from generating heat, and 
 the plurality of heating elements is separate from the pressure generation elements. 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid discharge head further includes temperature detection elements provided for the plurality of the areas, respectively, 
 the liquid discharge device further includes a detecting unit configured to detect temperature values detected by the temperature detection elements, and 
 if the detecting unit detects any of the areas having a temperature equal to or below a predetermined threshold, the control unit causes the heating element in the area to generate heat. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the pressure generation elements heats the liquid to generate a bubble in the liquid, and thus generates the energy to be used to discharge the liquid. 
     
     
       4. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 2 , wherein each area corresponds to a recording element board provided with two or more of the pressure chambers, two or more of the pressure generation elements, and two or more of the heating elements. 
     
     
       5. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 4 , wherein the control unit starts heating by causing the plurality of heating elements to generate heat at a timing that is a predetermined period before a time to start recording. 
     
     
       6. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 5 , wherein the number of the heating elements arranged along an array direction of the discharge ports is less than the number of the pressure generation elements arranged along the array direction. 
     
     
       7. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the liquid discharge head includes the recording element board, and a support member to support the recording element board, and 
 regarding flow channels formed in the recording element board, common flow channels formed in the support member, and communication holes formed in the support member so as to allow the flow channels in the board and the common flow channels to communicate with each other, the number of the heating elements is equal to or greater than the number of the communication holes. 
 
     
     
       8. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the liquid discharge head includes the recording element board, and a support member to support the recording element board, and 
 regarding flow channels formed in a first board of the recording element board and communicating with two or more of the pressure chambers, flow channels formed in a second board of the recording element board and communicating with two or more of the pressure chambers, first communication holes communicating with the flow channels in the first board of the recording element board, and second communication holes communicating with the flow channels in the second board of the recording element board, the number of the heating elements is equal to or greater than the number of the first communication holes and the second communication holes. 
 
     
     
       9. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a pressure in each of the first communication holes is higher than a pressure in each of the second communication holes. 
 
     
     
       10. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 thermal diffusivity of the support member is lower than thermal diffusivity of the recording element board. 
 
     
     
       11. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 in the liquid discharge head, a plurality of the recording element boards are arranged on the support member, and 
 the pressure generation elements in each of the recording element boards overlap the pressure generation elements in its adjacent recording element board with respect to a conveyance direction of a record medium. 
 
     
     
       12. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 2 , wherein each area is a region including two or more of the pressure chambers, and a plurality of supply ports communicating with the two or more pressure chambers. 
     
     
       13. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 2 , wherein each area is a sub-region including one of the heating elements. 
     
     
       14. A liquid discharge head comprising:
 a plurality of discharge ports to discharge a liquid; 
 a plurality of pressure generation elements to generate energy to be used to discharge the liquid; and 
 a plurality of pressure chambers communicating with the plurality of discharge ports, each of the pressure chambers including one of the pressure generation elements, wherein 
 heating elements are arranged in a plurality of areas of a region of the liquid discharge head, the region being a region where the plurality of discharge ports are arranged, 
 a driver to drive the corresponding heating element is provided in each of the plurality of areas, and 
 the number of the heating elements arranged along an array direction of the discharge ports is less than the number of the pressure generation elements arranged along the array direction. 
 
     
     
       15. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 14 , further comprising a recording element board, and a support member to support the recording element board, wherein
 regarding flow channels formed in the recording element board, common flow channels formed in the support member, and communication holes formed in the support member so as to allow the flow channels in the board and the common flow channels to communicate with each other, the number of the heating elements is equal to or greater than the number of the communication holes. 
 
     
     
       16. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 15 , wherein
 thermal diffusivity of the support member is lower than thermal diffusivity of the recording element board. 
 
     
     
       17. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 16 , wherein
 in the liquid discharge head, a plurality of the recording element boards are arranged on the support member, and 
 the pressure generation elements in each of the recording element boards overlap the pressure generation elements in its adjacent recording element board with respect to a conveyance direction of a record medium. 
 
     
     
       18. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 14 , further comprising a recording element board, and a support member to support the recording element board, wherein
 regarding flow channels formed in a first board of the recording element board and communicating with two or more of the pressure chambers, flow channels formed in a second board of the recording element board and communicating with two or more of the pressure chambers, first communication holes communicating with the flow channels in the first board of the recording element board, and second communication holes communicating with the flow channels in the second board of the recording element board, the number of the heating elements is equal to or greater than the number of the first communication holes and the second communication holes. 
 
     
     
       19. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 14 , wherein the liquid is circulated between inside of the pressure chambers and outside of the pressure chambers. 
     
     
       20. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a recording element board including the discharge ports, the pressure generation elements and the pressure chambers; and 
 a support member to support the recording element board, the support member including a flow channel for supplying liquid to the recording element board. 
 
     
     
       21. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 20 , wherein the liquid discharge head is page-wide type head including a plurality of the recording element boards. 
     
     
       22. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of the recording element boards are arranged in a straight line. 
     
     
       23. The liquid discharge head according to  claim 20 , wherein the recording element board is configured to eject a plurality of different types of liquids. 
     
     
       24. A liquid discharge device to perform recording by use of a liquid discharge head including a plurality of discharge ports to discharge a liquid, a plurality of pressure generation elements to generate energy to be used to discharge the liquid, and a plurality of pressure chambers including the plurality of pressure generation elements and communicating with the plurality of discharge ports, the liquid discharge device comprising:
 a control unit configured to control a temperature of the liquid discharge head by applying heat with heating elements arranged in a plurality of areas of a region of the liquid discharge head, the region being a region where the plurality of discharge ports are arranged, wherein 
 a driver to drive the corresponding heating element is provided in each of the plurality of areas, 
 when there is recording data for the discharge port in a certain one of the areas, the control unit causes the heating element in the certain area to generate heat, 
 when there is no recording data for the discharge port in the certain area, the control unit keeps the heating element in the certain area from generating heat, and 
 the number of the heating elements arranged along an array direction of the discharge ports is less than the number of the pressure generation elements arranged along the array direction. 
 
     
     
       25. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the liquid discharge head includes the recording element board, and a support member to support the recording element board, and 
 regarding flow channels formed in the recording element board, common flow channels formed in the support member, and communication holes formed in the support member so as to allow the flow channels in the board and the common flow channels to communicate with each other, the number of the heating elements is equal to or greater than the number of the communication holes. 
 
     
     
       26. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the liquid discharge head includes the recording element board, and a support member to support the recording element board, and 
 regarding flow channels formed in a first board of the recording element board and communicating with two or more of the pressure chambers, flow channels formed in a second board of the recording element board and communicating with two or more of the pressure chambers, first communication holes communicating with the flow channels in the first board of the recording element board, and second communication holes communicating with the flow channels in the second board of the recording element board, the number of the heating elements is equal to or greater than the number of the first communication holes and the second communication holes. 
 
     
     
       27. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 26 , wherein
 a pressure in each of the first communication holes is higher than a pressure in each of the second communication holes. 
 
     
     
       28. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 26 , wherein
 thermal diffusivity of the support member is lower than thermal diffusivity of the recording element board. 
 
     
     
       29. The liquid discharge device according to  claim 24 , wherein
 in the liquid discharge head, a plurality of the recording element boards are arranged on the support member, and 
 the pressure generation elements in each of the recording element boards overlap the pressure generation elements in its adjacent recording element board with respect to a conveyance direction of a record medium.